CBS 5 - KPHO 'Suicide by cop' attempt at AZ prison ends safely

'Suicide by cop' attempt at AZ prison ends safely

An inmate at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Douglas is in detention after holding a correctional officer hostage for about 30 minutes Monday morning, prison officials said.

Authorities described it as a "suicide by cop" situation. 

At about 9:50 a.m., inmate Marcus Davis grabbed his assigned correctional officer and placed an object which he claimed to be a knife on the back of her head, officials said.

Davis stated he was doing a life sentence for first-degree murder, his mother was dying with cancer and he had nothing to lose, prison officials said. 

The correctional officer radioed for help. The inmate told her to call whomever was in charge and to summon the SWAT team, prison officials said. A Rapid Response Team was mobilized, armed with chemical agents and Tasers.

The Unit Deputy Warden entered into the unlocked office to begin talking with the inmate. Davis told the warden that he did not intend to hurt the correctional officer and wanted the SWAT team to just kill him, prison authorities said.

The Deputy Warden continued to engage the inmate in conversation for about 15 more minutes. Davis released his hostage peacefully, prison officials said. 

The weapon turned out to be a pen, authorities said.

Davis is also serving a consecutive sentence for armed robbery in Maricopa County.

The inmate has been placed into detention on a continuous watch and is awaiting psychological assessment.

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